If You Have Courage, Do It.
The Adelheit Family — a noble house of the North.
They were the family that blocked the northern frontlines, one of the few dukes on the continent. While they rarely interfered in politics, that did not mean they lacked it.
After all, they were too busy repelling regular monster waves and demonic incursions to pay much attention, yet the current duke’s political insight was as seasoned as his title suggested. His martial prowess ranked among the rarest, placing him firmly in the Meister tier.
Being engaged to the daughter of such a renowned noble house.
Skadi’s smile twisted. This story had not reached her ears even as rumors before the regression. She was about to question it when—
**CRACK!**
The door burst open.
A woman whose appearance rivaled Skadi’s in elegance stepped inside.
She wore the Empire’s uniform, yet her perfectly balanced figure and striking blue eyes beneath that clear blue ponytail could not be hidden.
Beside her stood a golden-haired man who looked frail. He kept bowing his head in apparent apology.
The woman spotted Aaron and walked over with purposeful steps. Without hesitation, she leaned in close.
“Aaron.”
“Hard to believe it’s been eleven years since we last met.”
“Eleven years.”
“Time really flies.”
After eleven long years, their exchange was short and dry.
“Already?”
“….”
“Why didn’t you come?”
Aaron’s cold laugh met her accusation.
“What are you talking about?”
“Eleven years ago, if you had come to us, we would have helped.”
“Hah.”
“Or does that mean I should have clung to your family?”
“…Yeah. It’s not too late. The Patrick family can still be revived.”
**CLANG!**
Alisa Adelheit stared at him for a moment, stunned. Her cheek burned from the pain of the slap. She could have blocked it, yet she had not. She had never imagined Aaron would strike her.
“I, Aaron Patrick, am of noble birth. That fact has not changed, Alisa Adelheit. No matter what, there are lines you must protect.”
“…Aaron.”
“If we think about it, we are still engaged.”
It was not an emotional outburst. In the future, this bond had to be severed. They had been apart for so long, and she had been slapped. Everything they once shared was gone.
“I demand an annulment.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Completely serious. The current Patrick family is unworthy of becoming the Adelheit family’s daughter-in-law.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I’m here.”
Alisa’s hand moved to her sword sheath. The blade slid out. Aaron did not move. He had no need to. The sword had been drawn, yet he had not advanced.
Alisa’s gaze shifted to the maid in her uniform. The overwhelming mana pressing down on the sword belonged to the woman.
Skadi gracefully lifted the edge of her frilled maid skirt in greeting.
“Who are you?”
“Skadi. I am Professor Patrick’s personal maid. Seeing Professor’s actions, drawing a sword would normally be allowed, but I wonder if that is truly what you intend, Lady Adelheit.”
“Aaron isn’t bad. If he is, it’s me.”
“Wow, is this what it means to be ‘far from the truth’…?”
“Aaron. Woman. Explain yourself.”
Aaron ignored Alisa’s question and drew a clear line.
“Leave. We have nothing more to do with each other.”
“Not yet.”
“The more you act like this, the more disgust I feel toward you.”
Alisa’s eyes trembled. With no other choice, she sheathed her blade.
“We’ll meet again.”
“Aah, we’ve caused you trouble because of our young miss. I apologize deeply.”
The man who appeared to be Alisa’s attendant bowed politely. Aaron simply pointed toward the door.
The sound of their departure echoed as they left. Only then did Skadi relax.
“Her strength matches the Adelheit name. For a moment, I thought I’d be cut in half.”
“…Don’t joke about being cut in half.”
“Why?”
“Then believe it.”
*
On the day of the transfer exam.
Haren and Renya stood among forty other candidates in the massive Main Lecture Hall. The test that day had brought them here.
Haren stood at his place without a second thought. Renya, however, was tense from the first exam. Soon a professor appeared before them. Despite knowing his identity, they still felt nervous.
“Why is this person here?” The answer came from the man himself.
“I’ve only recently joined the Academy, so I may not be familiar to all of you.”
A man with gray hair and an impeccably pressed Empire uniform, as if he had been brushed of even a speck of dust. Their current superior, their master. He had broken bones inside them yet they still could not forget him.
“This transfer exam’s overall supervisor will be Aaron Patrick. He will oversee the test’s safety and fairness.”
Many did not know him, but no one questioned his qualifications. It was impossible. From the moment he had entered the hall, an aura of absolute authority had radiated from him.
“You may doubt it. Suspecting an unknown person is the natural attitude. But apart from that, I make no empty promises. This test will be fairer and safer than any before.”
The gray eyes burned with conviction, instilling trust in the cadets.
“The exam consists of three parts: knowledge, personal combat ability, and teamwork. Your scores will be judged in that order.”
A brown-haired woman raised her hand.
“What is your name?”
“Hillary. Could you briefly explain the test content?”
“Knowledge will follow the usual written format. Mana and physical ability will use artifacts. Personal overall combat ability will be tested through sparring with me.”
“And the teamwork portion?”
“It will be explained when the time comes. The overall schedule is as follows. Any more questions?”
No one raised their hand.
“Come with me.”
Following Aaron Patrick, the cadets entered a grand lecture hall. Each took a seat, and papers with exam questions were distributed.
“Let’s begin with knowledge. The time limit is sixty minutes. Aim for a score that reflects your true ability.”
Renya saw the questions and sighed in relief. Seven days of being toyed with by the gray youth had paid off. She answered the problems neatly. Haren, however, hesitated.
“…I can’t aim for first place. If you’re in the upper ranks in other fields, do it. Otherwise, the chance of you and your precious younger sister entering the Academy drops sharply.”
That was his assessment.
Then.
“William Berhan.”
“Why, why are you calling me?”
Aaron Patrick summoned a cadet.
“Cheating detected. You are disqualified from this moment.”
“What nonsense! What cheating did I do?! Do you have proof?!”
Aaron’s brows furrowed.
“Don’t raise your voice. The other cadets are quietly taking the test.”
“So you have proof?!”
“…I have no choice.”
Renya and Haren trembled. Haren knew exactly what would happen to that man. Renya wished the fool would shut up and apologize right away.
Fortunately, it did not escalate. Aaron pulled on his gauntlet and began inscribing runes.
**[Isa] — Halt all those present.**
Every cadet except the cheater froze in place. Renya was no exception.
“Since there has been some commotion, I will pause the exam. You won’t be able to focus properly in this environment anyway. I will finish the necessary tasks quickly and proceed.”
“That’s why some nameless professor… You know who I am, yet you do this without proof?!”
Aaron did not react to the insult. Instead, he seized the thread of the situation.
“It is none of my concern who you are. My reason for being here is only to conduct the test fairly and safely.”
The blue thread swayed lightly. Berhan’s face drained of color.
“Impressive stealth. Judging by the level, it isn’t magic I’ve seen before. You must have spent a great deal of money.”
Before the eyes of all the watching cadets, Aaron dismantled the magic.
“The trigger is biting your lip twice. The mana required by the spell formula is extremely low. Because the amount used is minimal, it is difficult to detect. The form is a thread that cannot be seen unless you concentrate.”
The more he spoke, the sweat began to pour down the cadet’s face. Renya assumed that idiot had finished.
“At this level, he’s no ordinary street rat. More like some lowly spy who couldn’t even get into the Intelligence Division.”
“…H-how.”
Aaron pointed toward the exit.
“Leave, William Berhan. The evidence is more than enough.”
“Don’t laugh! I’m the third prince of the kingdom! Are you seriously saying the kingdom will just let me get disqualified like this?!”
“What does that have to do with it?”
Despite flaunting the kingdom’s prestige, Aaron Patrick remained unmoved. Berhan panicked.
“Your status means nothing to me. Even if you were a royal, I would have acted the same.”
“I have no intention of blaming you for the cheating. If you managed to hide it from the examiner, you clearly possess sufficient ability to be recognized for it.”
But.
“You did not. That is all.”
Aaron’s hand still pointed at the exit. The prince could find no more words. In the end, he had no choice but to leave the lecture hall. Aaron checked the watch on his wrist.
“You took far too much time. I apologize for the commotion. The remaining exam time is forty-five minutes. We will continue.”
Aaron snapped his fingers, and every cadet in the hall regained the ability to move.
“If you want to cheat, go ahead. If you have the courage.”
No one committed any cheating until the exam ended.